by Nancy Taylor Tate
Our spiritual life must be established and abide upon a firm foundation. I have found that this foundation is one of the most important things in our lives, something we must intentionally build and always maintain.
Essential, is making room in our lives for quality times of fellowship apart with the Lord. A devotional time is something we will always have to contend for.
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6
Foundational also is the development of our integrity and character, that which facilitates the presence of the Lord in our lives.
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature…
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8
Also fundamental is the application of God’s word; not just hearing but applying it to our lives.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Matthew 7:24-25
As these foundational areas develop and grow in our life experience, it causes the soil of our lives to be cultivated, that the seed within can come forth to its fullest potential.
The Bible says we are born again of an incorruptible seed, by the word of God.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23
The parable in Matthew 13:1-23 gives a picture of the same seed being planted in different types of soil. Notice the variation in growth is because of the differences in the soil, not the seed. Some seeds fell by the wayside, and the birds took the seeds away. Some fell on stony places; there was no depth for the seed to grow. Some fell among the thorns, but the thorns choked the seed out.
However, some seed also fell into good ground and brought forth fruit!
“But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:8
The same potential is within the seed; the variation in growth is because of the differences in the soil, not the seed. The sower went forth to sow, that’s His part. Cultivating the soil of our lives, that’s our part.
Building a good foundation and carefully cultivating the soil of our lives allows that seed within to come forth unhindered and for us to stand firm and flourish in every season of life.
“Christ in you, the hope of glory!” Colossians 1:27
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ.” Philippians 3:14
“Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” Philippians 3:15
As you continue to cultivate the soil of your life, building and maintaining a strong foundation, may the Lord strengthen, bless, and encourage you that you might live and walk in all the fullness of His desire.